So That's it; Its all the PROTESTANT'S fault that we have all this income disparity!

Well OK, maybe its not all their fault but, a recent study published by the European Central Bank does seem to imply that the "Protestant work ethic" vs Catholic social teachings may have something to do with inequal wealth distribution in society.

Does ‘Protestantism’ Lead to ‘Greater Income Inequality?’

According to Reuters, the study shows that Catholics “also have a stronger preference for sharing wealth equally” — an insinuation that will frustrate those in the faith who have more conservative economic ideals. While this may be un-palatable to some Catholics, another finding to come out of the study is the fact that Catholics are more likely to support more leisure time with family than are their Protestant counterparts (here, it would seem that Protestants would be on the defensive).

Interestingly, the study contends that there may be some truth to Max Weber’s “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” a book published in 1904 that claims Protestants are more likely to see hard work as a means to gaining salvation. Additionally, this view purportedly encourages an accumulation of wealth.

According to the study, Protestant localities were seen to have higher income inequality. “Relative to Roman Catholicism, Reformed Protestantism has curbed preferences for redistribution and for government intervention in the economy,”

The Blaze

The article does point out that there are plenty of Catholic economists that support free market ideals but, if one were to take a closer look at Catholic social teachings, they would realize that these economists do not accurately reflect Church teachings on economics. If one were to seek an economic model which more accurately reflects Catholic social teachings, then Distributism would be the way to go.

Distributism is based on the widespread ownership of property, so that each man has what he needs to live confortably without having to rely on an employer to provide him with his income. Distributists even go so far as to contend that Capitalism is an Unnatural System in which all property is owned by the very few, forcing the common man to rely on others for his livelyhood.

To learn more about Distributism, I recommend the following articles:

A Short Primer for Protestors


An Introduction to Distributism


An Introduction to Distributism II

The Differential Tax


For an explanation of why libertarian ideals clash with Catholic social teachings:The Church and the Libertarian

Feudalism reigned in Europe for 1000 years with no intervention from the Catholic church. And, lest we forget, heavily Catholic nations like the ones in Central and South America are so totally known for their income equality.

A poll may show pretty things, but it plays out quite differently in reality.

Originally posted by AnIntellectualRedneck
Feudalism reigned in Europe for 1000 years with no intervention from the Catholic church. And, lest we forget, heavily Catholic nations like the ones in Central and South America are so totally known for their income equality.

Feudalism was a necessary evil caused by violent raids from vikings and such on the ordinary people. The people paid a tribute to the lords for protection against the viking raiders. Sure, there were abuses to the system but, it was the best they could do under the circumstances.

The so-called Catholic nations of Central and South America may have Catholic majorities within their countries but, their governments are often very anti-catholic and/ or communist leaning in their economics. One could hardly say that those countrys followed a Catholic economic model in the way their governments operate.

To see what a real Distributist economy can accomplish, one has to look no farther than what MacArthur did in Tiawan after WW II.

Reuters and The World Central bank are involved in this, i call bulls**t. I bet the Vatican has it's seedy hands in there somewhere too. Wouldn't they love another Inquisition to cleanse the Earth from theses pesky Protestants and Muslim's and Hindus and Sikhs and, well you get the message.

Originally posted by Hootsmanwheresmaheid
Wouldn't they love another Reformation to cleanse the Earth from theses pesky Protestants and Muslim's and Hindus and Sikhs and, well you get the message.

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The Reformation was a PROTESTANT movemement against the Catholic Church. That's almost as bad as the folks who call the Church "Puritanical" (FYI: the puritans were a sect who wanted to purge the church of England of all Catholic influences).

You should read it again!

Originally posted by FortAnthem
(FYI: the puritans were a sect who wanted to purge the church of England of all Catholic influences).

edit on 11/2/11 by FortAnthem because: [atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/8f9e57e278a7.gif[/atsimg]

Ahem,ahem....If I am not mistaken, weren't the puritans the ones who started the "witch" hunt? No, the puritans were not strictly against the Catholics. They were against any and everyone who opposed their stringent belief system, much like Modern day Muslims and radical "Christians."

reply to post by FortAnthem


You do realize that Taiwan is Chinese? McArthur or not (who was a coward, anyway ) Chinese will always be successful wherever they go. They're like the Jews of Asia.

The Roman Church does talk to talk... shame it has never been followed up with real action. The imposition of Canon Law at the point of a sword did a huge amount of damage in my neck of the woods, it took a free people and turned them into Chattel, it turned men and women into nothing more than goods to be brought and sold while stealing all their land.. which I honestly think shows the real thought process that goes on behind the scenes in the Church.

reply to post by FortAnthem


MOre like the Church of England pretended to severe ties with Rome. And the Puritans pretended to want to purge CoE. Heck, even England pretended to lose the war of 1812.

reply to post by FortAnthem


There is a huge portion of Catholics that are Democrats, and have been so for generations. Catholicism pushes more on charity and giving to various causes than it does Brimstone and Fire preachings that protestants tend to.

www.catholicdemocrats.org...

This study shows that 60% of Catholics are Democrats. 36% are Republican.

The only major issue I've ever heard raised against Democrats at Mass was against abortion. Even homosexuality isn't an issue (though the Church would never marry them).

Reply to post by FortAnthem

All Protestants are are protesting Catholics.

They are still under the umbrella of Catholicism, they just pay no mind to the Pope.


Posted Via ATS Mobile: m.abovetopsecret.com

Great

The zillionth protestant vs catholic argument.

After six centuries, can we move this along please....

Originally posted by FortAnthem


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I am so stealing this.

Thank you very much.

M.